Caernarfon Town and Briton Ferry Llansawel lead the way after the opening three games of the JD Cymru Premier season, with The New Saints and Pen-y-bont tight at their heels.
Half the teams in the league are still waiting for their first win, but Llanelli Town are the only club that remains without a single a point.
Connah’s Quay and Flint Town United have just one point apiece by the bottom of the table, ahead of the Flintshire derby on Monday afternoon.
This will be the last season under the current 12-team format, before the number of league members increases to 16 clubs for the 2026/27 season. That means that six clubs will be promoted to the JD Cymru Premier at the end of this season, with the bottom two dropping down into the second tier. Four European spots will be up for grabs this year, before that amount drops back down to three for the following year.
Monday, 25 August
Colwyn Bay (8th) v The New Saints (3rd) | Monday – 14:30
Colwyn Bay have just two points from their opening three matches, and things don’t get any easier for the Seagulls as they welcome the champions to the Blue Turtle Arena on Bank Holiday Monday.
After a slightly shaky period following the European fixtures, the ship seems to have steadied yet again at Oswestry as the Saints have seen Connah’s Quay and Pen-y-bont in their last two outings, without conceding a goal.
It will be a special occasion for Michael Wilde on Monday as the Colwyn Bay manager welcomes his former club, The New Saints to Llanelian Road.
Wilde won 15 trophies during his spell as a centre-forward for The New Saints where he scored a staggering 197 goals in the green and white stripes.
But it will be a monumental task for the Seagulls who have lost their previous four games against The New Saints, including a 4-1 defeat at Park Hall last season in the fourth round of the JD Welsh Cup.
League form:
Colwyn Bay: ͏➖➖❌
The New Saints: ❌✅✅
Caernarfon Town (1st) v Bala Town (6th) | Monday – 14:30
Caernarfon Town have had a fantastic start to the season, scoring 11 goals in their last two matches, thrashing both Llanelli Town (6-1) and Flint Town United (2-5).
The Canaries scored several screamers at the Essity Stadium on Friday night, and the confidence is flowing in the Cofi veins, who have a dangerous squad this season.
Although some doubted that Bala Town might struggle this year after the departure of Colin Caton, the Lakesiders currently boast the best defensive record, and are one of four clubs that have not lost a game so far.
But the Cofis haven’t lost any of their previous eight matches against Bala Town (W3, D5) including a brilliant 5-0 win at the Oval in March where Louis Lloyd scored a hat-trick for the Canaries.
League form:
Caernarfon Town: ͏➖✅✅
Bala Town: ➖✅
Briton Ferry Llansawel (2nd) v Haverfordwest County (9th) | Monday – 14:30
Not many would have predicted Briton Ferry Llansawel’s frantic start this year, with the Reds level on points at the top of the table.
Andy Dyer’s men showed their grit on Friday night as they battled back from 2-0 down against Llanelli, eventually winning 2-4 at Stebonheath Park, with young forward Ruben Davies netting for the fourth successive game in all competitions.
Haverfordwest County will be extremely disappointed to have had to share the points with Cardiff Met on Friday seeing that the Bluebirds took a 2-0 lead in the opening 20 minutes, and so Tony Pennock’s side are still waiting for their first three points this season.
Haverfordwest County won both ties against Briton Ferry Llansawel last season including a comfortable 5-1 win at the Bridge Meadow in January.
A decade has passed since Briton Ferry last won at home against Haverfordwest County with the Bluebirds winning their four games at the Old Road since then.
League form:
Briton Ferry Llansawel: ͏✅➖✅
Haverfordwest County: ❌➖
Cardiff Met (7th) v Barry Town United (5th) | Monday – 14:30
Ryan Jenkins will be quite satisfied with the three draws that Cardiff Met have had so far, but he will certainly be keen to claim the first victory soon.
The Barry boys will be tamping after conceding in the 94th minute to lose the game against Pen-y-bont on Friday night, tasting defeat for the first time this term.
Ryan Reynolds scored in both games against Barry Town United last season, but the Dragons edged the head-to-head record overall, winning 2-1 at home after drawing 1-1 at Cyncoed Campus in August.
However, Cardiff Met have not lost any of their last six home games against Barry Town United (W4, D2).
League form:
Cardiff Met: ͏➖➖➖
Barry Town United: ✅➖❌
Pen-y-bont (4th) v Llanelli Town (12th) | Monday – 14:30
After missing the first two games of the season due to suspension, Noah Daley made quite an impression in his first league appearance for Pen-y-bont on Friday night, bagging a brilliant hat-trick to defeat Barry Town United.
It was a crucial three points for Rhys Griffiths’ side to keep them within a point of the league leaders, Caernarfon Town and Briton Ferry Llansawel.
It’s a very different story in Llanelli as Lee John’s boys continue to wait for their first point since their promotion over the summer.
Llanelli Town have never lost against Pen-y-bont, with the Reds winning all three of the previous meetings between the clubs, including the win on penalties in the third round of the JD Welsh Cup back in November 2023.
League form:
Pen-y-bont: ͏✅❌✅
Llanelli Town: ❌❌❌
Connah’s Quay (11th) v Flint Town United (10th) | Monday – 17:15 (Live online)
Due to the recent problems with the water pipes in Flintshire, Connah’s Quay and Flint Town United have only played two games so far, and both clubs have a point each.
Connah’s Quay were comfortably beaten 3-0 by the Saints on Friday night, while it was raining glorious at the Essity Stadium, but unfortunately for the Silkmen, the majority were claimed by Caernarfon (FTU 2-5 Cfon).
Although Connah’s Quay won three of the four contests between the teams last season, the two clubs finished level on points in 8th and 9th place.
Nomads star Rhys Hughes managed to score five league goals against Flint Town United last season, with two of those strikes winning the Goal of the Month award.
League form:
Connah’s Quay: ➖❌
Flint Town United: ➖❌
The highlights of the games will be available on Sgorio’s social websites and the best of the weekend’s action on S4C on Monday night.
